Blood tests to catch cancer earlier to be trialled across England

Patients aged 45 and older in England will soon have access to blood tests designed to identify signs of multiple cancers before they reach advanced stages. The new clinical trial aims to determine if general practitioners can use these results to refer patients for urgent treatment sooner than current methods allow.

The study involves at least 200 GP practices within the National Health Service and will include more than 20,000 participants. Eligible patients are those presenting with abdominal symptoms such as persistent bloating or discomfort. The tests, developed by the University of Birmingham and its partners, analyze blood samples for proteins and use artificial intelligence to estimate where in the body a potential cancer may originate.

The trial covers 14 types of cancer, including prostate, ovarian, bowel, pancreatic, stomach, and liver cancers. These conditions are frequently diagnosed late, contributing to Britain’s high cancer mortality rate compared to other OECD nations. Researchers say this is the first trial of its kind to evaluate whether simple blood screening can directly improve early detection rates for GPs.

The primary goal is to measure whether the tests support doctors’ clinical judgment effectively enough to justify a national rollout. The study will track if earlier diagnosis leads to better survival outcomes for patients. The trial will assess the accuracy of the blood tests in identifying cancer signs and suggesting their location within the body.

The initiative seeks to address the gap in early detection for cancers that often present without obvious symptoms until they are advanced. By integrating AI and protein measurement, the tests aim to provide GPs with additional data during routine visits. The results will inform future decisions on whether to adopt this screening method across the country.